Community events in eastern Ventura County: Discussion planned on local film history

"Scary Agoura: An Evening Devoted to Fright Films Shot in the Agoura, Malibou Lake and Oak Park Environs" will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Agoura Hills library, 29901 Ladyface Court.

Guest speakers Brian Rooney and Harry Medved, screening clips of movies from "Frankenstein" to "Poltergeist" to "I Married a Monster from Outer Space," will lecture about local film history and sign copies of their regional books to raise money for the Friends of the Agoura Hills Library.

The event is free. Call (818) 889-2278 for details.

CALABASAS

Leaders needed for nature program

Learn to lead nature hikes for elementary students at the UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve.

Seven half-day training sessions begin 9 a.m. Oct. 17 at the reserve, 1201 Stunt Road, Calabasas. Classes are taught by resource professionals. They will include topics such as Santa Monica Mountains ecology, early Chumash/Tongva culture, native plants and animals, rocks and soil, interpretive skills and a special workshop to make teaching artifacts.

Some natural science background and interest is preferred for participants. School programs will be held Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Register at 818-591-9363

Library to hold lunchtime yoga

The Calabasas library will present a "Yoga and You" lunchtime session at noon Oct. 20 at 200 Civic Center Way, Calabasas. Deanne Wenger will be the instructor.

Wear comfortable clothing. Bring a yoga mat or large towel and water. No experience is necessary and all are welcome. Call 818-225-7616 for more information.

SIMI VALLEY

Ghost tour returns to Strathearn Park

The annual "Ghost Tour at Strathearn Park" returns to Simi Valley for its 13th year on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 14 to 30, at 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley.

The joint venture between the Ventura County Cultural Association and the Simi Valley Historical Society is presented like a moving play as visitors are guided on a walking tour. They make 13 stops to be enlightened and entertained by historical apparitions. Each venue portrays a mini-story from Simi Valley's lore.

Docent-led tours will depart about every 15 minutes and last about an hour and a half, ending with refreshments. Dress warmly.

Tickets are available at the gate for $8 per person older than 5. Groups of 10 or more may make reservations by calling the park visitor center at 526-6453. Go online to http://www.simihistory.com for further information.

Author to headline benefit for hospice

Ventura County Star opinion columnist and mystery author Wendy Dager will be giving a talk and signing copies of her humorous mystery novel "I Murdered the PTA" at 7 p.m. Thursday at a private home in Simi Valley.

A $45 donation will include a signed copy of the book, with proceeds benefiting the Loving Heart Hospice Foundation. Cocktails and cupcakes will be served. Email Debbie Thomas, woodranch@aol.com, or call 818-535-8344 for more information.

Senior center offers wine-tasting trip

Local seniors are invited to go wine tasting and create a custom label for their own bottle on Nov. 16 at the Thomas Vineyards Winery, one of California's oldest wineries, which was established in 1839.

"The Thomas winery offers guests a glimpse into the past," said Sue McElvogue, recreation coordinator with the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, which is offering the opportunity to seniors 50 and up through the Simi Valley Senior Center.

"They'll take a guided tour followed by tasting five wines all made at the winery," McElvogue said. "And a special treat &mdash; guests will go into the production room to bottle, cork and custom label their own bottle to keep."

The deadline to register is Oct. 26. Cost is $75 per person and includes transportation and lunch at Souplantation. Registration forms are available at the senior center, 3900 Avenida Simi. Call 583-6363 for more information.

"It's never too late to make healthy lifestyle changes, and we can benefit from these healthy changes at any age," said Jaeger, the registered dietitian for the Ventura County Area Agency on the Aging's senior nutrition program.

Call 583-6363 or stop by the senior center west main entrance reception desk for an appointment.

THOUSAND OAKS

Archivist to cover magazine art

An archivist for Westways magazine, published by the Automobile Club of Southern California, will talk about the magazine's covers at California Lutheran University.

Morgan Yates will talk about Swedish-American artist Carl Oscar Borg, as well as others who provided art for the magazine, in his lecture, "Autos, Archives and Art."

The event, part of CLU's Scandinavian Lecture Series, will begin at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in the Roth Nelson Room on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Call the Scandinavian Center at 241-0391 for more information.

Course to focus on calendars

What would our lives be without the calendar? Marganit V. Lish will address this question and more during her course, "A Calendar: Origin and Usage," at 501 Marin St. in Thousand Oaks.

Her discussions will include the evolution and history of calendars, as well as familiar calendars, such as the Gregorian, Arabic, Hebrew and Chinese calendars.

The course, presented by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of CSU Channel Islands, will be offered from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 8, 15 and 22. Courses through the institute &mdash; intended for people older than 50 who do not take classes for grades or degrees &mdash; are taught by experts so students learn and discuss the best the field offers, organizers said.

Lish is an educator with 50 years of experience spanning from elementary grades to adult education, including a 14-year tenure at Moorpark College. She is an educational curriculum specialist, a creator of her own educational materials company and a panel participant in educational seminars.

Call 437-2748 for fees or more information.

House of Hope to hold fundraiser

Our Community House of Hope will hold an estate sale and fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at 348 W. Avenida de Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks.

The site is the nonprofit's newly acquired residential care home for terminally ill residents, and is expected to open in November.